Global warming summary by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

By By JAKE ELLISON

on October 1, 2013 1:02 PM

Photo: Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com

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Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice have diminished, sea level has risen, and the concentrations of greenhouse gases have increased, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Image Credit: NASA/GSFC/MODIS less

Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia. The atmosphere and ocean have warmed, the amounts of snow and ice ... more

Photo: Multiple

Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since the 1950s,... Photo-5198409.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850. In the Northern Hemisphere, 1983–2012 was likely the warmest 30-year period of the last 1400 years (medium confidence), from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the Earth’s surface than any preceding decade since 1850. In the Northern Hemisphere, 1983–2012 was likely the warmest 30-year period of the ... more

Photo: AP

Each of the last three decades has been successively warmer at the... Photo-5155660.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Ocean warming dominates the increase in energy stored in the climate system, accounting for more than 90% of the energy accumulated between 1971 and 2010 (high confidence). It is virtually certain that the upper ocean (0−700 m) warmed from 1971 to 2010, and it likely warmed between the 1870s and 1971, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Ocean warming dominates the increase in energy stored in the climate system, accounting for more than 90% of the energy accumulated between 1971 and 2010 (high confidence). It is virtually certain that the ... more

Over the last two decades, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been losing mass, glaciers have continued to shrink almost worldwide, and Arctic sea ice and Northern Hemisphere spring snow cover have continued to decrease in extent (high confidence), from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

This image provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Center shows the Arctic sea ice extent on Sept. 13, 2013 in white. The orange-colored border surrounding it shows the median extent for Sept. 13 from 1981-2010. less

Over the last two decades, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have been losing mass, glaciers have continued to shrink almost worldwide, and Arctic sea ice and Northern Hemisphere spring snow cover have ... more

Photo: AP

Over the last two decades, the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets... Photo-5220662.71196 - seattlepi.com

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The rate of sea level rise since the mid-19th century has been larger than the mean rate during the previous two millennia (high confidence). Over the period 1901–2010, global mean sea level rose by 0.19 [0.17 to 0.21] m, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

The rate of sea level rise since the mid-19th century has been larger than the mean rate during the previous two millennia (high confidence). Over the period 1901–2010, global mean sea level rose by 0.19 ... more

Photo: Elise Amendola, AP

The rate of sea level rise since the mid-19th century has been... Photo-3660116.71196 - seattlepi.com

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The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years. CO2 concentrations have increased by 40% since pre-industrial times, primarily from fossil fuel emissions and secondarily from net land use change emissions. The ocean has absorbed about 30% of the emitted anthropogenic carbon dioxide, causing ocean acidification, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

The atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, and nitrous oxide have increased to levels unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years. CO2 concentrations have increased by 40% since ... more

Total radiative forcing is positive, and has led to an uptake of energy by the climate system. The largest contribution to total radiative forcing is caused by the increase in the atmospheric concentration of CO2 since 1750, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Total radiative forcing is positive, and has led to an uptake of energy by the climate system. The largest contribution to total radiative forcing is caused by the increase in the atmospheric concentration of ... more

Photo: AP

Total radiative forcing is positive, and has led to an uptake of... Photo-4020420.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Human influence on the climate system is clear. This is evident from the increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, observed warming, and understanding of the climate system, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Human influence on the climate system is clear. This is evident from the increasing greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, positive radiative forcing, observed warming, and understanding of the ... more

Photo: Mel Curtis, Getty Images

Human influence on the climate system is clear. This is evident... Photo-5179393.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Climate models have improved since the AR4. Models reproduce observed continental-scale surface temperature patterns and trends over many decades, including the more rapid warming since the mid-20th century and the cooling immediately following large volcanic eruptions (very high confidence), from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Climate models have improved since the AR4. Models reproduce observed continental-scale surface temperature patterns and trends over many decades, including the more rapid warming since the mid-20th century and ... more

Observational and model studies of temperature change, climate feedbacks and changes in the Earth’s energy budget together provide confidence in the magnitude of global warming in response to past and future forcing, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

This photo taken Monday, June 17, 2013, shows people sunning at Goose Lake in Anchorage, Alaska. Parts of Alaska are setting high temperature records as a heat wave spread across Alaska. less

Observational and model studies of temperature change, climate feedbacks and changes in the Earth’s energy budget together provide confidence in the magnitude of global warming in response to past and future ... more

Human influence has been detected in warming of the atmosphere and the ocean, in changes in the global water cycle, in reductions in snow and ice, in global mean sea level rise, and in changes in some climate extremes. This evidence for human influence has grown since AR4. It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Human influence has been detected in warming of the atmosphere and the ocean, in changes in the global water cycle, in reductions in snow and ice, in global mean sea level rise, and in changes in some climate ... more

Photo: Associated Press

Human influence has been detected in warming of the atmosphere and... Photo-914613.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in all components of the climate system. Limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming and changes in all components of the climate system. Limiting climate change will require substantial and sustained reductions of greenhouse ... more

Photo: PETER PARKS, Getty

Continued emissions of greenhouse gases will cause further warming... Photo-4424048.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Changes in the global water cycle in response to the warming over the 21st century will not be uniform. The contrast in precipitation between wet and dry regions and between wet and dry seasons will increase, although there may be regional exceptions, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Changes in the global water cycle in response to the warming over the 21st century will not be uniform. The contrast in precipitation between wet and dry regions and between wet and dry seasons will increase, ... more

Photo: AP

Changes in the global water cycle in response to the warming over... Photo-5220651.71196 - seattlepi.com

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The global ocean will continue to warm during the 21st century. Heat will penetrate from the surface to the deep ocean and affect ocean circulation, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The global ocean will continue to warm during the 21st century. Heat will penetrate from the surface to the deep ocean and affect ocean circulation, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate ... more

The global ocean will continue to warm during the 21st century.... Photo-4295568.71196 - seattlepi.com

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It is very likely that the Arctic sea ice cover will continue to shrink and thin and that Northern Hemisphere spring snow cover will decrease during the 21st century as global mean surface temperature rises. Global glacier volume will further decrease, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

It is very likely that the Arctic sea ice cover will continue to shrink and thin and that Northern Hemisphere spring snow cover will decrease during the 21st century as global mean surface temperature rises. ... more

Photo: Florian Schulz

It is very likely that the Arctic sea ice cover will continue to... Photo-3468482.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Global mean sea level will continue to rise during the 21st century. Under all RCP scenarios the rate of sea level rise will very likely exceed that observed during 1971–2010 due to increased ocean warming and increased loss of mass from glaciers and ice sheets, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Global mean sea level will continue to rise during the 21st century. Under all RCP scenarios the rate of sea level rise will very likely exceed that observed during 1971–2010 due to increased ocean warming ... more

Cumulative emissions of CO2 largely determine global mean surface warming by the late 21st century and beyond. Most aspects of climate change will persist for many centuries even if emissions of CO2 are stopped. This represents a substantial multi-century climate change commitment created by past, present and future emissions of CO2, from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. less

Cumulative emissions of CO2 largely determine global mean surface warming by the late 21st century and beyond. Most aspects of climate change will persist for many centuries even if emissions of CO2 are ... more

Map of the observed surface temperature change from 1901 to 2012 derived from temperature trends determined by linear regression from one dataset (orange line in panel a). Trends have been calculated where data availability permits a robust estimate (i.e., only for grid boxes with greater than 70% complete records and more than 20% data availability in the first and last 10% of the time period). Other areas are white. Grid boxes where the trend is significant at the 10% level are indicated by a + sign.
(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) less

Map of the observed surface temperature change from 1901 to 2012 derived from temperature trends determined by linear regression from one dataset (orange line in panel a). Trends have been calculated where data ... more

Maps of observed precipitation change from 1901 to 2010 and from 1951 to 2010 (trends calculated using the same criteria as in Figure SPM.1b) from one data set. For further technical details see the Technical Summary Supplementary Material.
(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) less

Maps of observed precipitation change from 1901 to 2010 and from 1951 to 2010 (trends calculated using the same criteria as in Figure SPM.1b) from one data set. For further technical details see the Technical ... more

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Photo-5262637.71196 - seattlepi.com

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(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

Photo: IPCC

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Photo-5262638.71196 - seattlepi.com

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(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

Photo: IPCC

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Photo-5262639.71196 - seattlepi.com

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(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

Photo: IPCC

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Photo-5262640.71196 - seattlepi.com

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(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

Photo: IPCC

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Photo-5262641.71196 - seattlepi.com

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(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

Photo: IPCC

(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Photo-5262636.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Multi-model simulated time series from 1950 to 2100 for (a) change in global annual mean surface temperature relative to 1986–2005 (see Table SPM.2 for other reference periods).
(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) less

Multi-model simulated time series from 1950 to 2100 for (a) change in global annual mean surface temperature relative to 1986–2005 (see Table SPM.2 for other reference periods).
(Graphic from the The ... more

Photo: IPCC

Multi-model simulated time series from 1950 to 2100 for (a) change... Photo-5262644.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Multi-model simulated time series from 1950 to 2100 for (b) Northern Hemisphere September sea ice extent (5 year running mean).
(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

Multi-model simulated time series from 1950 to 2100 for (b) Northern Hemisphere September sea ice extent (5 year running mean).
(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)

Photo: IPCC

Multi-model simulated time series from 1950 to 2100 for (b)... Photo-5262643.71196 - seattlepi.com

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Observed global mean combined land and ocean surface temperature anomalies, from 1850 to 2012 from three data sets. Top panel: annual mean values, bottom panel: decadal mean values including the estimate of uncertainty for one dataset (black). Anomalies are relative to the mean of 1961−1990. (Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) less

Observed global mean combined land and ocean surface temperature anomalies, from 1850 to 2012 from three data sets. Top panel: annual mean values, bottom panel: decadal mean values including the estimate of ... more

Multiple observed indicators of a changing global carbon cycle: (b) partial pressure of dissolved CO2 at the ocean surface (blue curves) and in situ pH (green curves), a measure of the acidity of ocean water. Measurements are from three stations from the Atlantic (29°10′N, 15°30′W – dark blue/dark green; 31°40′N, 64°10′W – blue/green) and the Pacific Oceans (22°45′N, 158°00′W − light blue/light green).
(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) less

Multiple observed indicators of a changing global carbon cycle: (b) partial pressure of dissolved CO2 at the ocean surface (blue curves) and in situ pH (green curves), a measure of the acidity of ocean water. ... more

(c) change in global mean upper ocean (0–700 m) heat content aligned to 2006−2010, and relative to the mean of all datasets for 1971, (d) global mean sea level relative to the 1900–1905 mean of the longest running dataset, and with all datasets aligned to have the same value in 1993, the first year of satellite altimetry data.
(Graphic from the The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) less

(c) change in global mean upper ocean (0–700 m) heat content aligned to 2006−2010, and relative to the mean of all datasets for 1971, (d) global mean sea level relative to the 1900–1905 mean of the ... more